Certain activities are exempt from the requirement to demonstrate cost-effectiveness by completing a BCA. Exempt activities include:
- Management costs.
- Mitigation planning and planning-related activities.
- Any activities claimed under the 5 Percent Initiative (Refer to Part 10).
- Codes and standards activities.
- Advance assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Post Fire (HMGP Post Fire).
- Project scoping under BRIC and FMA.
- Partnership activities.
- Technical assistance awards.
- Earthquake early warning systems.
While OMB Circular A-94 describes an exemption for water resources projects (refer to the White House Council on Environmental Quality Principles, Requirements and Guidelines for Water and Land Related Resources Implementation Studies [PR&G] [Dec. 2014]), the cost-effectiveness requirement in the Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) program authorizing statutes must be met. The cost-effectiveness determination should be supplemented by consideration of the PR&G criteria if applicable. Water resources projects may include aquifer recharge, storage and recovery and storage, flood diversion and storage, and floodplain and stream restoration.
More information about specific activities can be found in Part 11, Part 12 and Part 13. Activities may be subject to funding limitations to maintain the cost-effectiveness of the Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) programs.